Salomon von Rajalin

Salomon Maurits von Rajalin (25 August 1757 – 23 September 1825) was a Swedish (baron), admiral and civil servant belonging to the von Rajalin family.

Early life Rajalin was born on 25 August 1757 in Karlskrona, Sweden, the son of Vice Admiral and his wife Barbara Eleonora von Gertten. Johan von Rajalin served as governor of Blekinge County from 1769 to 1783 and was created friherre in 1771. Salomon's grandfather was the Finnish-born naval officer who served in the Great Northern War and later became commander of the Swedish Navy during the War of the Hats before dying aboard his flagship.

Career Appointed at the age of sixteen to acting sub-lieutenant in the Fleet of the Army, Rajalin served 1780–82 as an employee of the French Navy. After having returned to Sweden, he quickly rose through the ranks and became, since the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy in 1784 came into Swedish possession, in 1785 the first Swedish governor there. From there he was transferred in 1787 to the governor location on Gotland and held that post for 20 years, during which he however long periods of time held different positions of trust. He was during the Russo-Swedish War 1788–90 military commander of the Archipelago fleet and excelled particularly in an engagement at Porkkalanniemi on 26 August 1789.

After the peace treaty he became rear admiral in 1791 and was 1791–94 general commissary in the fleet. Appointed vice admiral in 1799, Rajalin was 1801–09 as acting adjutant general, rapporteur before the king in cases involving the fleet. During the Finnish War in 1808 he commanded the Archipelago fleet, but resigned from this position in October of that year. Appointed in 1809 by Charles XIII to admiral, he became in 1812 governor of Gävleborg County, but resigned already in 1813 from this position. von Rajalin died childless on 23 September 1825 in Stockholm. The funeral was held at Ulrika Eleonora Church and he was buried at Klara Cemetery. When his brother died in 1826, the baronial family von Rajalin was emanated.

Sweden 14 September 1771 – Sergeant 15 July 1773 – Second lieutenant 19 February 1777 – Lieutenant 4 June 1783 – Captain 22 September 1784 – Major 14 July 1787 – Lieutenant colonel 31 August 1787 – Major general 23 August 1790 – Rear admiral 5 August 1799 – Vice admiral 27 September 1808 – Admiral

France 1779 – Lieutenant des vaisseaux

Awards and decorations

Honours Honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1805; president 1805–1806) Honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1805)